ABSTRACT
Pastoralism, the care and exploitation of domesticated herd animals, is deeply embedded in the pre-industrial economic patterns of India. This chapter focuses on various pastoral components of traditional economic activities in India and the geographical and ecological patterns associated with them. The most common and widespread pastoral pattern in India is radial. If the radial pattern of Indian pastoralism is the most common and widespread, then the circular pattern is the rarest and most restricted. The pattern of Toda pastoralism varies seasonally. If the Toda are the most curious of Indian pastoral groups, then the gypsy-like service nomads such as the Nandiwalla of Maharashtra, the Gadulia Lohar of Rajasthan, or the Lambadi of northern and central India are the most enigmatic. The varied nature of radial, circular, and vertical migrations among Indian pastoralists make difficult a typology which can successfully embrace the breadth of animal husbandry patterns in the subcontinent.
